Cairns Pest Control for Fleas

Usually transmitted by animals, fleas are one of the most annoying invasive pests we can imagine around the home. In fact, they share the crown with bed bugs and lice as being evasive, elusive and downright annoying.

Like many other bugs, the lifecycle of a flea develops from the egg to the larva, followed by the pupa and then on to a fully developed adult. Fleas are prolific breeders, with female fleas laying up to 50 eggs each day. That equates to around 350 eggs per week. Imagine having 20 fleas in and around your home laying in excess of 7000 eggs each week!

Flea infestations are not just limited to your pets. Eggs can be deposited on carpets, rugs and blankets by your pets. Once the eggs hatch into larvae, they seek further refuge in the dark recesses of your home furnishings.

How to Know if you have a Flea Infestation

The most obvious sign of dreaded flea infestation in your home is the presence of bites on your ankles. They’re not like mosquito bites, fleas leave highly itchy, raised welts on your skin. The welts are more focussed than a mozzie bite and tend to be much more annoying.

Here are some other cues for a flea infestation:

Your pets are scratching and nibbling their fur like crazy.
You can see them. On the carpet and furniture. Tiny dots bouncing around. One minute they’re there, next minute they’re gone. Cheeky buggers!
Flea poop or shedding on your pet or on the floor.
You’ll see clusters of dark dots on your pets, often around the next where it’s hard for your pets to reach.
Pets can have bad reactions to multiple flea bites. Look for swelling around the face and a shortness of breath.

Why Pets are Impacted More Than Human Beings

Animals are much, much furrier than humans. Well, most humans anyway. Fur provides a great environment for fleas to live, feed and breed.

Fleas will happily remain on an animal, however population booms can force them to look elsewhere. They can also be forced onto the floor or furniture if scratched off by pets. A passing human will suffice for a meal in the short term, hence ankles being the most commonly bitten area.

By the time you start to get bitten by fleas, it’s likely that you have an infestation problem and home remedies are not going to be very effective in eradicating the pests. Your best bet is to have your entire home treated by a local Cairns pest control specialist.

Preparation Tips for your Pest Control Treatment

Because fleas can literally be ‘everywhere’, it’s going to take a bit of time and effort to prepare for pest control in Cairns, especially if your pets are indoor and outdoor pets. The effort will be worth it though and will ensure your pest control measures are fully maximised to help prevent further flea infestations.